Part 32
Hafis reflexively hid his hand, but I was no less quick to pull it until he winced in pain when I grabbed his bruised hand.
"It hurts, Mom!" he cried, grinning.
"Why is this?" I asked again. My ten year old son just kept silent while looking down in fear.
"Earlier he was running in the mosque with his friend, Ma. Then he fell," reported Marwah, who had been silent all this time.
"Marwah!" exclaimed Hafis angrily. Marwah got scared and chose to hide behind me.
"Mama," squeaked Marwah even more scared.
"Why are you angry with your sister? Then why forget my message. If you are not allowed to run around in the mosque?" I asked angrily.
"Yes, Ma. Hafis apologizes. Tomorrow I won't run around again," replied Hafis, still looking down. I sighed, then stroked Hafis' hair slowly.
"Okay, Mama keep your promise, okay. Don't let it be repeated any time!" I said firmly.
"Yes, Mom," he answered.
"Okay, now let's have dinner first! Later Mama's cooking will get cold," interrupted my husband.
He was just silent and watching the interaction between me and his children since earlier. I nodded then told Hafis to apologize to his sister. After that, we ate together.
____
The next day, I was arranging clothes that had just been ironed. In the lecture hall, there is no helper, I deliberately wanted to take care of my own household.
"Assalamualaikum," said someone from the front door.
"Waalaikumsalam," I replied and then rushed into the front room.
From the glass window I peeked at who had come to visit, it turned out that Mrs. RT, who had a fertile body, came to visit. I immediately opened the door and greeted him warmly.
"Eh, there is Mrs. RT, please come in, Ma'am!"
Mrs. RT, named Mila, nodded with a smile and then stepped inside. After allowing him to sit down, I went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea.
"Take a taste, ma'am. Sorry that's all I can offer you," I said after reciting the tea and snacks on the table.
"Yes, ma'am. It's okay. This is also Alhamdulillah," answered Mrs. Mila.
"What's wrong, ma'am? Until Mrs. Mila herself came here." Then Mrs. Mila told her that she was going to have her daughter's wedding next Sunday. So the story is that I was invited to help which in Javanese terms is 'Rewang'.
"Oh, I see, I think there is a problem. Alright, I'll help out later. But it can't be full, Mom, you know there are still two kids that need to be taken care of."
"It's okay, ma'am. What's important is being together. We can sit together with other residents and get to know each other, can't we, Ma'am?"
It's true what Mrs. RT said. Moreover, as a new resident, I rarely interact with neighbors. My days are always busy with two small children and cleaning the house. Okay. , I will use that opportunity as well as possible to get to know the people around my house.
______
"Oh, so this is the handsome lawyer's wife? Introduce me Atun, just call me Bi Atun. My house is at the end of the alley," said a mother who was wearing a blue dress with a friendly smile.
I also welcomed her outstretched hand with a sweet smile too.
"Yes, Mom. I'm Dora. Sorry if I rarely participate in community gatherings, because I don't have an ART at home. So it's a hassle to keep taking care of the house and my two children," I said later.
Other residents also got acquainted and said that they were understanding of my situation. I feel grateful to have good and friendly neighbors. We immediately engaged in a fairly serious and intimate chat while peeling shallots.
There are also those who fry crackers and boil the chicken to be cooked in stews.
"Oh, so Mbak Dora is from Medan? But how come the way he talks is different from the driver from Medan. Mbak Dora is more gentle in speaking. Is it because of a woman, huh?" asked Mrs. Wati who was sitting next to me.
"Oh, if the driver from Medan is from Batak or Tapanuli land, Mrs. So their accent is loud and loud. If I'm more into Malay, so the talk is like this. If the original Medan is like my way of speaking. Because in Medan it's originally Malay," I explained clearly.
"Yes, I remember that in Medan there was a palace, what was its name? I forgot. The mosque is also there, isn't it, Mrs. Dora?" asked another mother.
I nodded and explained to feel the name of the mosque and palace in the city of Medan.
"It's called Maimoon Palace, if the mosque is called Masjid Raya Al-Mashun."
"Well, that's he. I really want to go there. I don't know when it will be done," complained the mother.
"Later, when I go home, we can be together, Mom. He-he-he," I replied.
"It's free, right?" he asked, laughing too.
"That's okay! I answered originally. The other mothers asked to come too. I just laughed at their jokes. I'm happy to be able to feel familiarity like this.
The next day, Mrs. RT's son's wedding party was lively. Many invited guests and relatives came to give their blessing and congratulations. I helped as best I could, since Marwah didn't really like crowds. He became fussy so I chose to help in the kitchen instead.
It's quieter and more central there, Marwah also sits calmly playing with the cooking utensil I brought from home. Hafis, who already understood about the event, helped collect the plastic cups that were used by the guests with his other friends. I'm glad he's been able to get along with the children around our house.
It wasn't until the afternoon that the event was over, I went home with my two children. They looked happy, what's more, before going home they were given money by Bu RT. I was also given money as a thank you he said. I've refused, but he still insists.
In the end, I accepted because others did too. The house is still dark, it seems my husband hasn't come home yet. He's working on a rather difficult case this time. Luckily there was Bagus who helped him.
Continued.